Slimming down with tea, teas against fat cells!

Slimming down with tea, start tea-drinking against fat cells today! After all, tea is the ultimate slimming drink. If you do it right, slimming with tea is really possible! It contains no calories, satisfies your hunger, replenishes your fluid levels and drives off fluids, thus reducing oedema and eliminating waste.

Still, like all foods, the same applies to tea: excess damages.

Coffee contains caffeine. So does tea, only this is called 'theine'. Both substances are uplifting, only tea contains half as much uplifting substance as coffee. Coffee contains 75 mg of caffeine per cup, tea only 30 mg of caffeine (theine)

If you want to lose weight with tea, you can drink 10 to 12 cups a day without any problem.

If you still prefer to take in less theine, you can choose to drink herbal tea or green or white tea.

Anti oxidants; what do they do?

Anti-oxidants, explained briefly, are substances that protect our bodies and are found in tea, among others.

When our body performs all the tasks it is supposed to (breathing, digesting food, regulating body temperature and circulation, etc.), oxygen is used. As in other situations where oxygen plays a role (e.g. iron rusting, paper yellowing, fruit or meat discolouring), some 'oxidation' occurs in our bodies. This involves the formation of free radicals.

Free radicals are by-products of normal metabolism. They are small incomplete particles (molecules and atoms) floating around in our blood. Because they are incomplete, they look for other substances, molecules and atoms, that can complete them. They try to find these complementary substances in our DNA, cells and tissue. Free radicals attack our bodies from the inside, so to speak!

The attack of free radicals promotes the ageing of our bodies, affects certain proteins and increases the risk of cancer.

Antioxidants counter these attacks by providing the seeking free radicals with the substance they are looking for so that they leave our DNA, cells and tissue alone further to limit the damage.

• White and green teas contain less theine than black and red teas and more antioxidants than black tea.
• Black tea contains more theine than white and green tea and also less antioxidants than green and white tea.
• Red tea contains more antioxidants than black tea and more theine than black, green and white tea.

From black and red So tea will make you a bit more active/quiet if you are sensitive to it (theine has the same effect as caffeine) than green or white tea. Black and red tea are thereTo less suitable to drink at night before bed.

Black and red teas are best drunk in the morning and early afternoon. Green and white teas are more suitable drinks for later in the afternoon and evening.

Slimming down with black tea

Properties: Contains a lot of theine and less antioxidants. Yet according to research the oxidants found in black tea do contribute to weight loss. From a sample with 111 people found that people who drank 3 cups of black tea a day for 3 months lost more weight and lost weight around the belly, than people who drank 'placebo tea'. Furthermore, black tea makes people active, lowers cholesterol and strengthens the immune system.

Preparation: Black tea can be made with water just off the boil. It will then be about 95 °C. The tea should steep for about 3-4 minutes. Longer steeping can make the tea bitter.

Black tea, in bags or as loose tea can be found >HERE

Slimming down with green tea

Properties: Contains little theine, but lots of antioxidants (ten times as much as in black tea!) and vitamin C. The powerful antioxidants counteract the clogging of blood vessels which is the main cause of cardiovascular diseases and brain attacks. It also promotes digestion and strengthens our immune system. Green tea speeds up the metabolism so the body uses more energy (without thereby increasing heart rate!) and... thus slimming down! Moreover, green tea inhibits the storage of fatty acids in fat cells (Source).

Preparation: When brewing green tea, you let the water cool for seven minutes to around 70-80°C. This is to ensure that the good properties of the tea remain optimal and the antioxidants are not lost. Let green tea steep for 3-5 minutes.

The slimming effect of green tea seems to be enhanced by vitamin C, so eat a kiwi or orange after drinking green tea, or drink a glass of orange juice.

Slimming-boost: Add a piece of fresh ginger and a slice of lemon to your glass of green tea and slimming will be even better.

Green tea in bags or as loose leaves or mixed with other teas and herbs as a super slimming mix can be found >HERE

Slimming down with white tea

Properties: Contains little theine, does not taste bitter, is good for the skin and rich in antioxidants. Laboratory studies show that white tea extract increases the breakdown of fat cells and prevents the formation of new fat cells (Source).

Preparation: White tea is brewed with water at 70-80°C. (let it cool for seven to 10 minutes) The tea can be steeped for up to 5-7 minutes depending on your taste. The longer the tea steeps, the greater the amount of flavonoids (antioxidants).

Pure white tea or white tea blended with green tea or other natural metabolism accelerators can be found >HERE

Slimming down with red tea (Pu Erh tea)

Actually, red tea is also black tea, but it turns red because of a special treatment after infusion.

Features: Sometimes contains high or low theine (depends on processing), stimulates digestion, supports the immune system and regulates cholesterol levels. Can be laxative if consumed in excess. This tea is formulated to stimulate your digestion and break down fat (Source).

Preparation: So 'red tea' is actually black tea, and so can be prepared with water just off the boil, about 95 °C.

The real Pu Erh tea can be found >HERE

TIP: If you are a fan of loose leaf tea, it is nice to make your own tea bags with original empty pouches. You can find these >HERE

Do you still prefer a nice tea filter? You will find these >HERE in various fun and original forms.

Slimming down with tea, fact or fable?

Is it really true that you can slim down with tea?

Yes and no.

Yes, because tea stimulates digestion/fat burning, promotes bowel function and also cleanses and detoxifies the bowels.

No, because if you just keep on snacking and do little or nothing in the way of exercise, it is "fighting a losing battle". The tea may make your digestion work faster and better, but if, on the other hand, you keep chowing down just as many calories, it has no effect at all.

No tea shrivels or shrinks fat cells. You will really have to work these yourself first with blood, sweat and tears need to empty and evaporate!

Tea is the ultimate weight-loss drink but mainly as tool and not as panacea.

For each type of tea, one level teaspoon of tea per cup/glass.

HERE read more about how all tea comes from the same plant but is processed in different ways.

Want to know more about herbal teas? Then read on below the image.

Slimming down with herbal teas

Slimming down with herbal tea, is it possible? Yes, it is! Herbal tea is made from (kitchen) herbs or plants growing in the wild. You don't have to pick them yourself if you don't want to, you can just buy them at the health food shop, or you can buy several types of herbal tea ready-made, just pour boiled water on top and let it brew for a while.

Note that herbal tea does not actually contain tea. This drink is drawn from - the name says it all - herbs! It is not tea because it does not contain tea leaves. However, you prepare it like tea, drink it like tea too and you can lose weight with it as with regular tea.

So herbal tea contains no theine, no stimulant and is suitable for people who are sensitive to theine and get a bit restless from this after a few cups.

Herbal teas also often have healing and/or relaxing effects.

Basil: Good against fever, coughs, colds, headaches, blocked (sinuses), arthritis, rheumatism.

Bergamot: Promotes digestion

Stinging nettle: Good against anaemia, osteoporosis, joint pain, dry skin and dry hair. Also works to staunch bleeding, so can be drunk after (serious) injury. Do pick nettles with gloves!

Lemon balm: Good against depression and tension headaches, but also contributes to good digestion.

Dill: Helps with constipation, promotes digestion.

Yarrow: Helps against inflammation, varicose veins, (including haemorrhoids) cold feet (disturbed circulation) and induces perspiration in fever so that body temperature drops.

Fenugreek: The decoction of this seed helps with an upset stomach and menstrual cramps.

Ginger: Calms the stomach, reduces stress, strengthens the immune system, improves circulation and speeds up metabolism.

Ginkgo: In China, extracts from the leaves of the Ginkgo Biloba Tree have been used for years against memory loss. Ginkgo tea improves blood flow in the brain and seems to have the same effect as dementia-reducing drugs. When combined with ginseng, the effect becomes stronger.

Ginseng: Stimulates the whole body.

Hyssop: Helps with colds and irritated airways like coughing, tightness of the chest, CARA.

Chamomile: Has a calming effect (also on digestion) and is also good against fatigue. Also suitable for steaming in case of a cold or sinusitis. Good against nightmares (before going to bed), headaches, toothaches and menstrual cramps.

Caraway: The decoction of this seed combats flatulence (flatulence) and promotes digestion,

Lavender: Works soothing, sleep-inducing and calms nerves. Stops diarrhoea.

Mint: Helps against menstrual pain, nausea, vomiting and headaches. Has a soothing effect on colds and sore throats and calms. Promotes digestion and may stimulate appetite.

Dandelion: Works detoxifying (liver and kidneys) It promotes fluid expulsion (urination) Sometimes drinking dandelion tea causes small kidney stones to be excreted!

Passion flower: The decoction of the leaf has a calming effect and helps with stress and nervous tension.

Rooibos: Promotes digestion, prevents intestinal cramps, has a relaxing and calming effect and stimulates kidney function, allowing waste products to be excreted through the urine.

Rosemary: Works against flatulence and soothes. Helps with flu and colds and regulates circulation and strengthens the nervous system.

Safflower: The decoction of the flowers has a fever-reducing effect and promotes perspiration (discharge of waste products).

Sage: The decoction promotes digestion and relieves symptoms associated with menopause. Those who find it difficult to fall asleep can try strong tea of sage with milk and honey.

Spirea: The decoction helps against heartburn and ulcers.

St John's wort: Against depression, headaches, migraines, insomnia, bedwetting, and for recovery after illness. (Do not drink when taking antidepressants!)

Thyme: Good against colds and dry coughs. Promotes digestion and appetite. Stops diarrhoea.

Valerian: Works relaxing and against palpitations, restlessness, nervous restlessness and anxiety. Can sometimes lower blood pressure. (Do not drink when taking antidepressants!)

Fennel: Good against intestinal cramps and gas. The tea also quiets hunger and burns fat, but for that you have to drink it before meals. A teaspoon of seeds is enough for a cup of tea.

Plantain: Helps against all types of allergies, colds, hay fever, asthma, bronchitis,
and helps soothe fever.

Honey: To sweeten herbal tea, honey is very suitable. If you choose honey, do not add it to the tea until it has cooled down sufficiently, or is at drinking temperature. If you put honey in boiling hot tea, the valuable substances in the honey will be broken down

The above text previously appeared in the Balance book. The book is now sold out, but may still be available to order second-hand via the link below.

The Balance Book

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